Last week Insurance Times kicked off its campaign to pick the Insurance Czar - an individual with enough experience, knowledge and panache to unite the disparate strands of general insurance, improve the industry's dented public persona and help lobby for change within the political arena.

Step forward Ray Stibbards. Ray, who is now a semi-retired FSA compliance consultant, is currently cruising ahead with over 60% of the vote.

The ex-head of compliance at PwC and agency manager at NIG told Insurance Times: "I am delighted to be mentioned in the same breath as the likes of Lord Hunt and Mary Francis. I would love to take on the role"

Lord Hunt remains a firm favourite, while Robert Hiscox and the much-lauded Michael Winner are very much in the running.